The North Goa Special Court has dismissed the discharge applications filed by Rowan Abranches and Mecwin Andvade, who are chargesheeted by Agacaim police for allegedly intoxicating and gang-raping a woman on a highway near Cortalim bridge. The Court directed that formal charges be framed against both the accused—Rowan Abranches and Mecwin Andvade for rape, gang rape, causing hurt by means of poison or intoxicating substance with intent to commit an offence with joint criminal liability, , ruling that there is sufficient prima facie evidence to put them on trial.

According to the prosecution, on 17 March, 2026, the accused befriended the victim, gained her trust, and offered her alcoholic beverages until she became heavily intoxicated and lost control of her senses. She was subsequently taken to a highway near the Cortalim bridge, where she was subjected to forcible sexual intercourse. While the complainant initially named Rowan in her complaint, technical surveillance, social media verification, and UPI transaction records from a wine store led Agacaim Police in identifying both Rowan Abranches and co-accused Mecwin Andvade. Additionally, CCTV footage recovered from the scene showed both accused men with the victim.

Dismissing their pleas for discharge in the case, the court noted that the CCTV footage confirmed the presence of the accused with the victim, while medical evidence prima facie supported the allegations of sexual assault. The court observed that the victim’s statement alongside digital and medical records provided sufficient grounds to proceed with trial.